Only 7 teams in SC High School League football history have won 4 consecutive titles.

As of this past Friday, Dutch Fork stands alone as the only 5-time defending champion.

Through a persistent rainfall and chilly temperatures at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, the Silver Foxes achieved this historic feat. In a season filled with uncertainty due to a pandemic, Dutch Fork added another unprecedented feat in defeating TL Hanna 28-6 in the Class 5A final.

It was the 50th straight game without a loss, the 49th consecutive instate victory and state-record 24th playoff win in a row. This also marked the 2nd time in 3 years the Silver Foxes had defeated the Yellow Jackets in the state final.

More important, the win clinched a 4th consecutive undefeated regular season and etched a permanent place in the SCHSL Palmetto’s Finest record book for the Silver Foxes (10-0) with a 5th straight title.

“We tried to make things as normal as possible,” said Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts, who won his 6th state title at Dutch Fork and 13th overall for his career. “But we said we wanted to be here. It wasn’t just enough to be here. We had to win. I’m so proud of them. There was pressure all year to get here and they did a great job.”

All of the scoring occurred in the 1st half. Quarterback Will Taylor and running back Jarvis Green each rushed for 2 touchdowns as Dutch Fork amassed 326 of its 373 total yards in the 1st half.

The Silver Foxes opened the game with a 4-play, 69-yard scoring drive. It started with a long run by Green and he ended it with a 11-yard touchdown run.

TL Hanna answered with a scoring drive to get within 7-6. A 59-yard run by DJ Brownlee set up a 1st and goal at the 10-yard line.

On 3rd and goal, the Silver Foxes forced a fumble and had 2 attempts at making the recovery. After momentarily having possession on the 2nd recovery, Dutch Fork lost the football and TL Hanna regained the football at the 9-yard line.

Kabrail Morrison scored on a 1-yard run, but the PAT failed.

Dutch Fork’s next possession opened with a 57-yard reception by Devin Hyatt. On the play, Hyatt suffered an injury and was seen wearing a sling on his right arm.

Dutch Fork was penalized 3 straight times, but Taylor scored on a 21-yard run to make it 14-6 in the 1st quarter.

With 21 seconds left in the 1st quarter, Green scored from 8 yards to extend the lead to 21-6. He finished with 137 rushing yards, 103 in the 1st half.

“It’s just weather,” said Green about the wet conditions. “They always say you’ve got to keep fighting through it and keep going and keep going and you’ll come out and succeed.”

The lone score of the 2nd quarter came with 3:24 left on a 4-yard touchdown run by Taylor. He finished with 147 yards on 6-8 passing and 82 rushing yards.

Although the Yellow Jackets held the football for 26 minutes, they were held to a season-low 212 total yards. All of it came on the round.

Lexington grad leads Falcons to 1st title

The Year of Dustin has extended from the golf links to the gridiron for Chronicle Country alumnus.

As a running back for Lexington High School, Dustin Curtis played for the 2000 Class 4A state runner-up led by coaching legend the late Jimmy Satterfield.

Fast forward 20 years Saturday night at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium and Curtis was the head football coach of the 2020 Class 4A state champion.

His AC Flora football team defeated North Myrtle Beach 42-7 to close out the “Weekend of Champions”.

After allowing a touchdown following a fumble on the 1st play from scrimmage, the Falcons scored 42 unanswered points to earn the program’s 1st ever title and 1st for Richland School District 1 since Lower Richland in 1970.

For Curtis, the victory had added significance from a personal standpoint. He reflected on his former head coach and teammates, who lost 31-24 to Dorman in that title game.

“Man, I really miss that dude,” he said. “I really, really miss that guy. He taught me a lot about character. He was the same guy every day. He was always so positive with us. He built a real program that was based on family and based on being fundamentally sound and he is someone I’ll never really forget.

“I was actually messaging some of my old teammates, saying this was the ‘20-year revenge’ right here because we lost in the state championship 20 years ago. So, hopefully, those teammates can be a little bit happy through me. But man, what an awesome, awesome experience.”

QUOTABLE

“Making history, man, it just feels great. I’m just going to celebrate this and, next, it’s going to be 6.” - Dutch Fork running back Jarvis Green.

ALL-CHRONICLE COUNTRY TEAM NOMINEES

All coaches can send their player nominees for the 2020 All-Chronicle Country football teams to chroniclesports@yahoo. com. The deadline for all nominations is Dec. 18 and the list will run in the Dec. 24 Lexington County Chronicle edition.